Chapter 3: The New York Incident

Part 1: The Trip (Day 1)

June 20, 2022

Heatherfield International Airport

Robert, Irma, Will, Matt, Cornelia, Caleb, Kim, Ron, June and Elyon went to the airport to depart for the trip to New York City to visit Irma's parents. They decided to fly there via Robert and Irma's Learjet 45. Robert and Irma carried out their pre-flight checks while everyone else got situated in the cabin. Irma turned on the seatbelt sign while Robert got onto the radio. "Heatherfield Ground, Bombardier 542, request clearance to taxi, departure to the northeast." Robert said on the radio as Irma started up the engines. "Bombardier 542, cleared to taxi runway 28L via taxiway C D, northeast departure approved, hold short of runway, tune tower on 287.7, altimeter 2992." the traffic controller replied. "Cleared to taxi runway 28L via taxiway C D, northeast departure approved, hold short of runway, tune tower on 287.7, altimeter 2992, Bombardier 542." Robert said as he disengaged the parking brake and eased the throttles forward slightly. He kept the aircraft centered on the centerline as he took the aircraft along the taxiway. After five minutes, the aircraft was near the runway; Robert applied the brakes to stop the aircraft before applying takeoff flaps and adjusting the upward pitch trim. He then changed the radio frequency to 287.7 and contacted the tower. "Heatherfield Tower, Bombardier 542 ready on runway 28L, request clearance for takeoff." he said. "Bombardier 542, Heatherfield Tower, cleared for takeoff runway 28L." The air-traffic controller replied. "Cleared for takeoff runway 28L, Bombardier 542." Robert replied. After receiving the clearance to takeoff, Robert taxied onto the runway and throttled up the engines.

After twenty seconds, they were airborne; Robert raised the gear and flaps and maintained a steady climb. "Bombardier 542, you are leaving my airspace, frequency change approved." the ATC said as Robert and Irma's plane climbed away. Robert switched the frequency and contacted the ATC center. "San Francisco Center, Bombardier 542 with you at flight level 3 thousand, request flight following." Robert said. "Bombardier 542, San Francisco Center, squawk 2334, maintain own navigation." The ATC replied. Robert switched the transponder code and began transmitting. "Bombardier 542, San Francisco Center, radar contact ten miles northeast of Heatherfield at flight level 5 thousand." The ATC said. "Radar contact ten miles northeast of Heatherfield at flight level 5 thousand, Bombardier 542." Robert replied. Robert then set the autopilot to keep the plane flying at 25,000 feet at 320kts. After six to seven hours, the Learjet touched down at JFK International Airport in New York City. The group then rented two vans and drove to Irma's parents' house in Brooklyn. "Hey! It's nice to see you again!" Irma said as she hugged her mother. "It's nice to see that you're being well taken care of." Anna replied as she hugged Robert. "Hey Mom, where's Father at?" Irma asked. "He's at the police station, as usual." Anna replied as she suppressed a chuckle. Just then, Irma's father, Tom, arrived. They all talked for an hour before the group headed to their hotel. Each couple got their own room, including Elyon and June. "Wow, I've never been to New York before." Robert said. "Yeah, my parents moved here only couple of months ago, this is my first time seeing them here." Irma replied.

Part 2: The Trip(Day 2)

June 21, 2022

New York City

Robert, Irma and the others decided to explore the city. First, they went to see the Empire State Building. "Wow, I've always wanted to see this close up!" Irma said as they took pictures. "Well, then today's your lucky day!" Robert replied. After ten minutes, they decided to walk around the city. Robert knew that it was dangerous walking in this area, so he carried his Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol so he could protect himself and the others. They eventually reached Times Square. "Whoa, it's just like I thought it would be!" Cornelia said in amazement. "Yep, it's just like what you would see on TV." Robert replied. Some of the other sights they saw included the United Nations headquarters building, the Stock Exchange on Wall Street, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Chrysler Building, and the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier museum. "Wow, this is like the Midway back in San Diego!" Irma said as we explored the carrier. "Yeah, but with a few differences." Robert replied. "You mean, like the planes are different?" Cornelia asked. "Yep, the Midway didn't have an SR-71, for example, or an F-16." Robert replied. After exploring the carrier, the group walked around the city some more. The group eventually got to the New York Zoo in Central Park. They decided to spend the rest of the day at the zoo. After leaving the zoo, the group explored the rest of Central Park. They all sat together as they watched the sunset. After leaving the park, they went back to the hotel. June and Elyon decided to spend the night with Robert and Irma. Before going to bed, they decided to watch a movie to relax and unwind.

Part 3: Zero Hour

June 22, 2022

Will, Matt, Cornelia and Caleb left the hotel the next morning to have some fun in Central Park. Kim, Ron, June and Elyon were exploring the local mall. Robert and Irma were at Anna's house watching "Futureweapons". (Robert's POV) Irma and I were sitting next to each other while Anna was on the phone with Tom. The show was in the middle of a commercial break when suddenly, the screen turned black and the Emergency Alert System attention tones sounded. We sat there wide-eyed as the following message scrolled across the screen: The US military has detected three nuclear missiles heading for New York, Brooklyn, & Suffolk. Missiles will hit within the next hour. Get into a subway station if you are close to one. If not, use a public or private fallout shelter and stay there until civil or military authorities give the all clear. Please tune to 770AM for information during your stay in the fallout shelter, remembering to save batteries. Do not come out of the fallout shelter. Only come out if very necessary. Tune to 770AM now. This station will now cease transmissions. While the message scrolled, an audio message played: Military authorities in your area have detected three nuclear missiles heading for the US. Impacted areas include New York, Brooklyn, & Suffolk. Follow the messages on screen and get to a shelter that can protect you from fallout. Repeating, Military authorities in your area have detected three nuclear missiles heading for the US. Impacted areas include New York, Brooklyn, & Suffolk. Follow the messages on screen and get to a shelter that can protect you from fallout. This warning applies to all areas receiving this broadcast, as fallout can spread over a large area. Tune to 770AM to get information during your stay in the shelter. Only come out of the fallout shelter if extremely necessary, as fallout is deadly. Military authorities in your area have detected three nuclear missiles heading for New York, Brooklyn, & Suffolk. Follow the messages on screen and get to a shelter that can protect you from fallout. This station will now cease transmission, so please use your battery radio for more information. Tune to 770AM to get information during your stay in the shelter.

"Oh my god, Robert, what time is it?!" Irma asked in a worried voice as the conclusion tones sounded. I checked my watch; it said "10:01AM". "It's 10:01, so we have until around 11:00 to get out of here!" I replied. "What do we do?" Irma asked. "We gotta call the others and tell them to meet us at the airport! We'll fire up the Learjet and fly out of here!" I said as we got up to tell Anna the bad news. Irma got out her cell phone and dialed Cornelia's number. "Hello?" Cornelia said as she answered. "Corny, it's Irma; we gotta get to the airport, NOW!" Irma said. "Why? What's going on?" Cornelia asked. "We have less than an hour before the entire city is toast! When you get to the airport, go ahead and start up the jet and wait for us, we'll meet you there!" Irma replied. "OK, we're on our way there now, see you later!" Cornelia said as she hung up. Irma, Anna and I then dashed for the car and began driving. I dialed Kim's number to warn her and the others. "Hello?" Kim said as she answered. "Kim? It's Robert; you guys have to get to the airport, pronto!" I replied. "Why, what's going on?" Kim asked. "We just heard it on TV: New York's gonna become a radioactive crater in less than an hour! We gotta get out of here!" I replied. "OK, but where is Cornelia and…" Kim began to ask. "Irma already told them, they'll meet us on the jet!" I answered for her. "OK, see you guys there!" Kim said as she hung up. "DAMMIT!" Anna suddenly shouted. "What is it?!" I asked. "Tom's still at the police station!" Anna answered. "We should go pick him up, then!" I said as we turned towards the police station. When we got there, the officer in charge told us that Tom was getting on a police helicopter to get out of the city. Knowing that Tom was safe, we got back into the car and sped off to the airport. When we got there, we showed the guards our access passes and headed to the flightline. We dashed to our Learjet, which was parked near the taxiway, its turbines still spooling up.

When we got on board, we breathed sighs of relief after seeing that everyone else was on board safely. I closed the boarding ramp while Cornelia and Caleb, who were at the controls, began to taxi to Runway 22L. I checked my watch; it read "10:39AM". "Oh jeez, we better hurry!" I said as Cornelia turned on the seatbelt sign. The roar of the turbines increased as Cornelia throttled up for the takeoff. Our stomachs sank as the Learjet lifted off of the runway. After five minutes, we leveled off, Cornelia turned off the seatbelt sign. Irma then called Tom on her cell phone. "Come on, come on!" Irma said as she waited for her father to respond. "Hello, this is Officer Lair, who is this?" Tom asked when he answered. "Father, is that you? It's Irma!" Irma replied. "Irma! It's great to hear your voice! Where are you?" Tom asked. "I'm on my husband's jet; we're flying out of the city!" Irma replied. "Great, are your friends with you?" Tom asked. "Yeah, they all are!" Irma replied. "OK, tell the others to shut their window shades, the missiles are going to hit soon!" Tom said. "OK" Irma said before turning to face me. "We need to shut the window shades now, the missiles are gonna hit!" Irma told me. I nodded as I raised my voice to make the announcement: "ATTENTION EVERYONE, WE NEED TO SHUT ALL OF THE WINDOW SHADES, THE MISSILES ARE GOING TO HIT ANY SECOND!!!!!" The others nodded as they shut all of the window shades. I got up and entered the cockpit. "What's going on?" Cornelia asked me. "The missiles are going to hit soon, we need to put up the anti-flash screens!" I replied. I watched as Cornelia and Caleb put the shade screens on the windscreen before getting back to my seat next to Irma.

Meanwhile, the conversation between Irma and Tom continued. "The shades are closed, how are things looking out there?" Irma asked. "Let's see, it all looks-THERE THEY ARE!!" Tom said "What is it?" Irma asked. "I can see the missiles; they're all coming down at the same time!" Tom replied. Just then Irma heard the distinct sound of a loud roar, which we could hear. "OK, the flash has subsided; you can open your s-." Tom began to say as he was interrupted by a loud crashing sound. "Father-" Irma began to say when the plane jolted hard. "We've been hit by the shock wave, hang on!" Cornelia said via the intercom as the plane went into a brief nosedive. Cornelia restabilized the flight path of our jet as we began opening the shades. "Father…Father, can you hear me?!" Irma asked in a worried tone as the busy tone began playing on her phone. I could see tears forming in Irma's eyes as she pressed the END button. "Irma, are you OK?" I asked in a soft voice. "C'mon, I need you with me." Irma said as she got up and began walking to the back of the plane. I got up and held her hand as we went into the lavatory at the back of the plane. We sat down on the small bench and looked at each other. Suddenly, Irma threw herself into my arms and burst into tears. "Hey, what's wrong, dear?" I asked, concerned. "It's Father, he…he's DEAD!!" Irma said as she cried harder. "Oh my…that's horrible!" I said as I held Irma tightly in my arms. Just then, Anna came in, a worried look on her face. "I can't get a hold of Tom; have you-Irma, what happened?!" Anna said as she saw Irma crying on my shoulder. "I think his helicopter took a hard hit from the shock wave and crashed." I said grimly. Anna's eyes filled with tears as she realized that my statement could be true. Irma and I broke our embrace as Anna fell crying on Irma's shoulder. In less than a minute, they both were crying as I stayed by their side to provide emotional support. A half-hour later, we ended up landing at Philadelphia International Airport, on Runway 9L. Once on the flightline, our jet and its occupants were checked for radiation from the fallout (fortunately, there was no radioactive contamination). We later checked into a hotel to rest and comprehend the event that we all just survived. We watched the news, which showed video footage that was taken by a Global Hawk reconnaissance drone of the destruction left from the nuclear missiles. We later called Hay Lin, Eric, Taranee and Nigel to tell them what happened. We were all still amazed that we managed to get out of the danger zone in time, considering the distance we had to fly.